Automatic brake release mechanism



J. F. MARTIN AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASE MECHANISM Oct. 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. JosEPH F. MARTIN.

ATToRNEY,

Oct. 20, 1953 J. F. MARTIN AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1952 9 III/A- 7;

m Rm mm m; V NH 1 P ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 20, 195 3 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to automotive devices, and has particular reference to a device for automatically releasing the emergency brake of a motor vehicle, so that the danger of driving with the emergency brake on, and thereby burning up the brake bands, is obviated.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism, which is readily installed on new or old automotive vehicles, such as are equipped with conventional emergency brake mechanisms, and gear shift levers, or automatic gear selector mechanisms mounted on the steering columns.

I am aware of the fact that mechanisms-for automatically releasing the emergency brake of an automobile are known to the public. Such mechanisms heretofore known have related the emergency brake releasing elements to the ball and lever type of gear shift mechanism, but so far as I have been able to ascertain, no one has provided an automatic emergency brake release mechanism which is directly connected to the steering column type of automatic transmission speed selector mechanism, or to the manual gear shift lever mounted on the steering column of many current model vehicles.

In the previously known devices of that character, the releasing of the emergency brake lever depended upon the use of a substantial force which was developed through the leverage of the gear shift lever.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an automatic emergency brake release mechanism, which is actuated by the manual operation of selecting a predetermined speed in an automatic transmission mechanism, without the required use of any substantial amount of force, and without in any way interfering with the normal functioning of the automatic transmission.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve devices of the character indicated, and to provide an emergency brake release mechanism which may readily be installed as an accessory on automobiles already in use, or may be .installed at the factory, as an integral part of the emergency braking mechanism of the vehicle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent .as the description proceeds, reference being made .from time to time to the accompanying drawing forming part of the Within disclosure, in which drawing;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the interior of a motor vehicle equipped with a device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line ii of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line t@ of Fig. 3.

Fig. "i is a section taken substantially on the line 'i? of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character H indicates the dash of an automobile, which is equipped with a steering column i2, accelerator pedal 56, emergency brake handle iii, an automatic transmission, speed selector lever it, and fire wall ii, all of which are conventional parts of a modern day motor vehicle, and form no part of the invention except as they are combined with the elements hereinafter described.

The emergency brake handle it is secured to the end of a rod it, which slidably extends through the dash I! and the fire wall ii, and serves to actuate the emergency brake mechanism (not shown) through suitable linkage (not shown). The speed selector lever it is secured to a rod :9, which is positioned on or along the side of the steering column 12 and extends through the fire wall ii, and in turn is connected by suitable means to the automatic speed mechanism (not shown).

The emergency brake rod is is supported by means of a bracket 20, which in turn is secured to the dash ll. The rod 18 is spring loaded by means of a spring 2!, which spring is preferably positioned between the bracket 29 and the pin In conventional practice, the rod I3 is provided along its upper edge with a plurality of teeth 23, which are centrally located on the rod and which, when the emergency brake is set, are arranged to engage a dog which is secured to the bracket 20, so that when the rod I8 is rotated about its axis, by means of the handle [5, approximately from the position shown in Fig. 2, the rod l8. under the influence of the spring 2| will return to the normal driving position, which is the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. With such a construction and arrangement, the driver of the vehicle often times will set the emergency brake, and without releasing it, will start the vehicle motor, select the gears, and start up the vehicle with the emergency brake set, thereby damaging the brake bands and other parts of the emergency brake mechanism. In order to ob-' viate such possibilities, I have devised a simple combination and arrangement of new elements which are applicable to the conventional mechanism heretofore described.

In order to practice my invention, I provide a rocker arm 24, which is pivotally mounted on the rod l8, and is arranged to rock on the rod I B, in a slot 25 formed in the bracket .20. In order to mount the rocker arm 24 on therod l8, without the necessity of having to remove the rod, I provide a split bearing 26 (Fig. at the bottom of the arm 24, the bearing plate 26 being secured to the lower portion ithe rocker arm 24 by means of Allen screws or machine screws 27. The arm 26 has a 'centrallslot 28, in which is pivotally mounted, as at 29, fa movable dog 30, which dog is provided with an under-cut tooth 3|, which is arranged to engage the teeth 23 formed on the rod I8. The dog 30 is-spring backed, asat 3'2, so'that the 'tooth 3| is held in frictional engagement with the teeth 23. In this embodiment, instead of rotating the rod 18 about its longitudinal-axis 'to release the emergency brake --mechanism, I prefer to rock the arm 24 in eitherdirectiomso 'thatthe dog t'o'oth iil will be out of alignment with the rod teeth 23, thereby freeing the rod f8 sothatit may aiitomaticallyreturn to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is the unlocked emergency brake position.

In order to automatically rock'thearm 21!, I provide-a linkage fifwhich in this embodiment may consist "or a pair of rods joined together by means of fa turnbuckle 34, although I also contemplate the use 'of a flexible cable or other means "for a'ccor'nplis'hing {this function. The

"other end of fthe'linkage 33 isconnected to a second arm 3 5, which is mounted on the --speed selector 'rod 19. "The"'arm"35 is provided with-a "pressure plate 36,"which'-is secured to the arm by means-of a-machine "screw- '37 --so"that the arm 35 may be-held rigidly fo'n the-rod l9 sothat any'rotation of the rod I-9*about its longitudinal X-is'wm 'kf e m which in turn win i thealmfl ough the linkage 33.

The arms 1 24 and -35 are positioned "so that when the speed "selector lever I 6 is in neutral f'positi'on," the "rocker-arm 24 carrying the dog "30 will be'in'pos'iti'omso that the dog "30" will engage the teeth '33on therod l8, so that when 'the'speed'selector lever lii' is moved in "either direction from the neutral position; the rocker arm 24 will be swung out of locking-engagement with the emergency brake rod i8, whereby the emergency brake will "automaticallybe released 'up'onanys'hi'ftin'g' of the speed selector'arm 16.

"From the foregoingfit will-"readily beund'erstood that wave-provi ed a 'siniplbureificient "automatic means for releasin "the emergency *4 brake mechanism upon the shifting of the speed selector mechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor vehicle having an emergency brake mechanism including a push-pull rod and a speed selector mechanism including a speed selector lever and rod, the combination of a bracket for supporting said emergency brake rod, an arm rockable on said emergency brake vrod, isai'd arm having aspring backed idogithereon arranged to engage teeth formed on said emergency brake rod, an arm rockable with said speed selector rod, and linkage connecting the zsaidrarmsgwherebyiupon the rocking of the arm on the speed selector rod in either direction "the arm 'and'said dog on said emergency brake will .beirocke'd out of engagement with the teeth on said emergency brake rod.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, in which said first named arm is pivotally mounted on said emergency brake rod .and is arranged to rock a slot formed in (said bracket, .the walls of said slot serving .as means for limiting the axial movement of said: arm on saidrod.

-3. Thestructure defined in claim 1,:inzwhich the said second named :arm is ,provided with :;-a pressure plate arranged to contact the speed selectorred, whereby to lockxsaid second named arm securely to said speed selector.- rod.

4. Inan automotive vehicle :havinganemergency brake rod and. 'aspeedsselector ;rod,'.the combination of a bracket 'for :supportingasaid emergency brake rod, a rocker :rarm pivoted ion said emergency brake rod,..means for cpreventing the axial movement of .said arm :onisaid :rod,;:a spring backed dog carried by :saidrocker '..arm and -arranged to :engage teeth :formed .on .:one 'side of :said emergency brake rod, a second arm secured to said speedselectormod :and. shiftable therewith, and adjustable linkage -.connecting said arms.

5. 'In combination .with an automotive :vehicle having emergency brake mechanisms including a manuallyshiftable rod; a plurality of teeth. 3011 said rod, a bracket for :supportingsaid rod,. .a "rocker arm pivotally-mounted on saidrod, a spring backed dog carried bysaid rocker-arm and-alignablewith the teeth-on said. rod, :a speed selector mechanism including a control rod .an

arm fixed to said control rod, adjustable-linkage connecting-both of said arms, whereby upon the movement of said speed selector-control:rod in brake' rd (1.

'JQ'SEPH- JFI MARTIN No references cited 

